The Devastating News x2

Here I was tonight having our Sales team dinner at the very beautiful Zalis by the Bay Restaurant at our hotel. I was sitting next to Mitchell, who's Australian born Chinese (from Malaysia and is Hokkien). He's 28y.o and married. By our conversation, it sounded like he's Christian and bingo, he was! The devastasting news all started when he told me that he attends Hillsong Church - City Campus. I then proceeded to tell him that I used to go to Hillsong Chinese Church 4 yrs ago when I lived in Sydney for 3 months. I first attended the church in Parramatta thanks to Ezrela (who's the sister of Lydia- my church member at that time) attended Hillsong Bible College. The moment I got to Sydney, Lydia introduced me to Ezrela who later brought me to her church and that was how I met Pst Eddy. Pastor Eddy Koo from Taiwan who's only 33.yo the time I met him. He was an awesome man of God. So funny yet held so much integrity.

As I ate the next piece of my lamb, Mitch was silent. It was then, I knew something was wrong. He told me:

"Vicky you haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

"About Ptr Eddy."

"No What?!"

"He went back to the Lord 6 months ago"

"What?! No! What? When? How?"

"In a boat Accident"

I was grief strickened. Mitch could see that so he told me 'it's not so bad, you know he's in a good place now'. Yes I guess I know that.. but I guess I was just really upset at the fact that his life could've been used longer.. that there were so many ppl who was blessed with his man. So much ppl under his care, under his inspiration, under his leadership. All of a sudden, the church was left 'leaderless'.

After that, I just couldn't eat my meal anymore. Despite the really nice Lemon brulee, I absolutely lost my appetite. I needed some time to digest the news that Pastor Eddy hadreally gone....

I hold 2 vivid memories of Pastor Eddy. First, he helped my local Church (Eastern Chinese Christian Church) obtain more praise and worship songs. I remembered how he took out all his transparencies and shared all his 'chinese Hillsong songs' with me when he had so many ppl to look after. I was only a visitor too! I remembered how happy he was knowing the fact that I could use it to bless my church as his church had translated all the english Hillsong songs into mandarin. He was such a blessing in every way.
Second, I remembered too when I had accidentally left my bible at his church one day. He rang me to tell me so we met up at Sydney Olympic Stadium during one night at the Hillsong conference so he could return it to me. He was always smiling, always so energetic, always so tenacious for God.

Those were the memories I held of him. On top of that of course, he was great man of God. His preaching were inspiring, funny yet so life applicable. You can't help but get infected by his passion for God.

Anyways at about 9:30pm, I went upstairs to my room to check up on all my emails. It was then I received the second piece of devastaing news. I received an email from my cell leader Sophenie.
She told us, Gabriel (who's from Citylife 18-25s Young Adults group) has been diagnosed with final stage of stomach cancer. It all started probably about two months ago when he was getting excruciating stomach pains. He went to the doctor, the doctor found a lump. Later, he went back to Singapore to get it removed thinking that was the end of it only to find out the growth had in fact been cancerous. Worse of all, the cancer had spread. He is only 24y.o. His girlfriend Betsy who's Hongkie is currently by his side in Singapore. We're all praying for him; For God to do a miracle in his life especially at such a tender age. Cancer is only a bad word in the medical world, but in the spiritual realm, it means nothing. Instead, God's power is greater and defeats it. Please join with me in prayer for Gab.

It's time like these that yet again reminds me of just how short life truely is. Don't waste every moment of it.. you never know when your time is up. Fulfill your purpose while you are given the chance to, before it is too late. Be alert for opportunites in your life to share the word of God, to bless others, to love others especially when they need it most. Don't be comfortable with your current 'world'. Step out of your comfort zone and be a blessing. You only have one shot at it. After all, regret is the most disturbing emotion that one will ever go through in life....